New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-01
RAYMOND BELMONTS DEATH.
DETAILS OF THE SAD AFFAIR.

Yesterdays TRIBUNE, was determined yesterday by
Coroner Nugent to have been accidental Concurrent
testimony and statements pointed to the same con-
custom.
The young man passed Sunday evening at din
ner party given at the Knickerbooker Club at Ihir-
tysecon ist. and Fifth ave-, by Marion Storey, men,
Der of the club on the occasion OF his birthday. The
marty consisted OF half dozen. 1t broke up about
midnight and Mr.. Belmont went home There are two
watchmen the Belmont mansion, which Is ut fith
ave. and EighteeDth-s'., opposite ChcnerMe hh,l,
one within and one without. Michael Curran Is the
outside Waterman, known to the police IA y IKE
The inside watchman is LeOnhard Baehr, q Herman
who lives at NO. 1913 East Thirty fthst lie goes on
duty Mt = D. M He has been cmpOyed at the house III
his present capacity ior two years According 10 his
story AT 1925 A. M the front door bell rang and he
let Raymond Belmont into the house. Inc Young
man passed directly to his on the floor above
After some ten minutes the bell connecting with
young Bemont's room WAS rung aud Baehr answered
it. The young man, who was in iull dress having re-
moved ONLY his overcoat, asked Baehr If he had the
revolver which he had given the walchnan two weeks
before Baehr answered, Yes, SIR
Hand it to me-" said Mr.. Belmont; IL wish to
practise with IT," - ,
Baehr took 1t from his trousers pocket and handed
IL to the Young man. He knew, he says that yonng
mr. Belmont was good marksman. was lond OF pistol
nractice and was even given toshowing his skill in
that line Oh the in the neighborhood lie next
asked the Waterman 10 90 with him TO the cellar
where he could have y chance TO do some shooting
They passed from the bedroom down stars thence TO-
ward the of the house to the basement ana iheh
down eight steps TO the cellar The water man says
that yonnp Belmont had bern in the habit O. gong
down there at night to practise, and 30 he dld not
think of the present proceeding as being strange at al
The cellar is OnT 9n running aIs 5Gs si"pe ros
Jet was lighted. On the arr val OF the two young Nr
Belmont in joking vein, took from his sh TT pearl
stud which Baehr says about tde size OF pea
He told Baehr hold this up so that the young man
night shoot between his n GERS. Baehr WAS AFRAID
to do this as the young man was n%nrsnHS .ne To
such way that he anxious to get out OF the way
of H. So the Waterman ADVISED HIM 10 shoot at
pine plsuk near by Consent was given TO ihs' wheH
The Young man observed that the door at The head oil
he stairs had been lett open and be turned to Baehr
and sad: , A.,
the report of the pistol will not disturb the house.
The order was promptly obcyed. A. Bnehr stood at
the head of the stars, his hanc on the door ana ms
back turned toward the cellar he heard pistol shot
behind him He supposed that the Young man had
bcruu his practice He went slowly down the stairs
but stopped abruptly near the gashght Young Bel
mont Law motouess his back on the cement loor oil
the cellar. His arne were eAtended' stream
of blood trickled from his lett eye ana b'ood
flowed from bis nose and cars Inc Maton
man picked the young man up. cXcla'ming ;
Mr. Belmont, what is the matter = There was
no response Baehr put his burden quickly on
the floor rushed upstairs and called the young man
bodv servant rushed to the stable and sent he
stable boy TO summon the outside watchlnai, VINO
FASTENED TO the New-York Hospital. where br. &. f.
steel, OF the rhysicans was called up foceIna
Gore Oh the beat was told OF the occurrence ana ne
conveyed word TO Sergeant Schmittbe ger, who was
making his rounds. August Belmont was the only
other member of the family IN the house. Mrs Bei-
mont was in Washington with her son, Congressman
Perry Belmont. Sergeant Schmit he ger sent Tor 'r
Schoer physician to Coroner l.idman who was also
summoned Word was dispatched by servant 10 Dr.
William NJ Polk the family physician of No. IL Eat
Thirty fourth-st, and TO DE. Morris l. Asch OF No
West Thireth-st c.,
The first of the physicians to arrive was Dr. Steel,
VINO had but three blocks TO come from the hospital
On his arrival he found tn valet, tlt TWO watchmch
and Policeman Gore and Sergeant schmthcrger in
-. Mr. Rein dead. The
watchman in LAYING the body down had left IL nearly
Oh the back slightly turned on the rght SIDE. no
evelids were partly closed the hands and arms lay
extended on tie body. Dr. Steel looked At the body
and pronounced life extinct That benk his sole duty,
ne at once went away. He was summoned 10 tho
house at l247. according 10 the b'otter.
Mean while Sergeant Schmittberger had questioned
Baebr and obtained his OF the sal occurrence
as already given. The police officer particularly made
in lliry rs TO Mr. BemOnt- habits In shooting IN the
cellar To substsntiate his statement, the watchman
oointed TO two bullet holes which lac said had been
made by shots fired by the yonng man. lie could ma
In the course OF a half hour Drs. scho'er Polk and
Ascb ,arrived. and also Coroner EidnaD who with
draw TO allow the case in the hands OF Cor
oner Xugent whose duty it to take charge OF the
case and no arrived about o'clock Tho bo1y was
taken upstairs to the kitchen ana placed on taDe,
when an examination WAS made. Dr. SchOler found
that the bullet had entered the night temple, passed
transversely and lodged under the skin at ne leI'
temple. Tho flesh where the bullet entered me eta
mum was indented. There we're no powder marks.
MI Belmont. tho father, WAS overcome ~hen tho
news was conveyed to HIM IL seemed incredible
and mis- prie was deep. He caused word to be tele-
" ,bo1 ~ ono. To Washington takin. care that II
should be sent TO Congressman Bcimonts serVhh,
with Instructions that he should say that Raymond
Was dan rcrously i'll and that Mrs Belmont and her
son should start Tor home at once ouosrluen,y ne
was TO inform Perry Belmont OF the real rthte oil
affairs Mrs. Belmont and Congressman belmont
reached the house at 430 p. Mr.. Belmont met his
wife AT the door Her first inquiry was M to her sohs
condition Mr.. BE mont led her TO their room and
then broke tho tidings her. She Frustrated
ha pahi last night TO converse upon
any arrangements tor the funeral She insisted how
ver seeing the body.
had reached the house, sent Tor h ii. jackson ths
sexton of the Church OF the Ascension, Mt fiihave
and Tenth st.. at 2:30 p. and he was Instructed 10
take charge of the BODY.
Coroner Nugent made his report Of the Coroner's
office in the forenoon. bas,ng 1t on the sworn state
ments of Ba-hr the Waterman, and OF DIS FOX ana
Asch The Coroner maze the formal report that death
was due TO shock from pisto-shot wound lie
stated hs belief that the shooting was accidental.
August Belmont jr. said that his brothers sad end
was undoubtedly the result OF his careessness IN
handling the loaded weapon. Oliver Belmont stated
that he was not aware that Raymond was in the
habit OF practising with the revolver IN the cellar
DR. Polk said that he had known the young for
twelve years and that he always OF bright and
cheerful disposition. lie had attended the Columbia
Law School lectures and expected to go into business
with his father Mr. Belmont the coming ear
Dr. Asch had known young Belmont Tor three years,
and had always found him bright and cheerful tie
took great interest in athletics and amateur sports
RAYMOND Rogers Belmont was twenty one years OLD
and was consideIeda highly promising young man.
lie was graduated from Harvard in 1856 He was a
member Of the Knckerbocker Club and was recent,
elected to membership in the Union Club lie was a
SOCIAL tavorte as we'll liked in club life ard he
popular in athletic circles. In alhictcs ne was
greatly interested. - 80
The Belmont family attend the Church of the Asc-n-
SON. and the funeral will be held there on thursday at
10 a. m. the Rev. Dr. H. Winchester Donald oitciat-
ing The burial will probably be at Woodlawn.
LADIES' NIGHT AT THE ONO SOCIETY,"